"Con Game"

Greetings "SURFACEDWELLERS",
Just a few lines to inform any who may wish to attend, about a brand new convention here in Orlando, Florida.
The 1st annual "Creature Con" is actually the off shoot of another convention, the "Repticon", a convention for pet owners specializing in all things Reptilian, and other exotic pets. The Creature-Con will be a small multi media event featuring merchandise, movies, comics and much more.
The people who are organizing the event approached me and asked if I wanted to attend, they were even nice enough to extend me a FREE table to their event, and me being the poor, humble artist that I am...who was I to refuse!
As a gesture of my gratitude for the invitation I designed a con poster for the event.(pictured) They will be available for attendees and visitors at the convention while they last.
"Creature-Con" will be held at the central Florida fairgrounds on the last weekend of May (30-31), to find out more about the upcoming convention visit the official site at; http://www.creaturecon.com/ .
I have also begun work on the next issue and a poster based on Ramsey Rusef''s series; "Billy the Monster Hunter" ,I will be doing the pencils while Vince Vinson will apply the colorwork. The next issue (#2) will be out by late summer/2009 and will be released through Scare Tactix Graphix http://www.scaretactixgraphix.com/ .
I am also wrapping up on the final pages of Robert Wawrzyniak's 12 part space epic; "SUPER-7", and a long overdue project called "Predator & Prey" by Paul Monsky.
I am also working on a special "BUBBA the Redneck Werewolf" poster for creator Mitch Hyman and Scare Tactix Graphix, it will also be available later this summer.
I will also be attending the 1st annual "Mini-MegaCon" which will be held here in Orlando in August, I will be sharing a table with "BUBBA the Redneck Werewolf" writer and creator Mitch Hyman...as always at my convention appearances I will be available for signings and for custom convention sketches so if you plan on attending these events while in town, by all means stop by my spot and say "Hi".
-till next time sports fans...Peace! ;)

film review: "STAR TREK"

I went and did something that I originally said I wasn't going to do....I went and saw the new "STAR TREK" movie.

I fully intended on not seeing it, mainly due to my closed mindedness to the possibilities that someone other than the late great Gene Roddenberry (father of the "Star Trek" universe) could successfully re-envision the all too familiar and traditional world of Trek....I WAS WRONG!

I would not go so far as to say that I am a "trekker" but I am a fan of the show, especially TOS (the original series 1966-1969) I grew up with that all too familiar crew of the starship Enterprise with the now iconic names like Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Sulu, and Uhura. So when I first heard a few years back that Paramount was re-launching the franchise with different faces I was skeptical to say the least, I consider myself a bit of a purist when it comes to certain things and "Star Trek" is one of those things, in my narrow perception there is only one Kirk(William Shatner), one Spock(Leonard Nimoy), and one "Bones" McCOY(Deforest Kelley). I had seen the aggressive ad campaign for the new film, seen the trailers and was initially impressed with the special effects work, so after much inner debating I re-considered and chose to see the film and give it an open minded look...and also to write this review of it.

Director J.J.Abrams (Lost) has boldly gone where no director has gone before, successfully directing a fresh new look into the Star Trek mythos and re-introducing to the world both young and old to the gallant crew of the starship "Enterprise".

As for the crew, the faces have changed but the names stay the same; the cast comprises of some top young talent some familiar , some not so...

Chris Pine(Smokin Aces) portrays the young James "Tiberius" Kirk, the man who would be Captain is played as a rather cocky, independent and rebellious type with a knack of getting into trouble.

Zachary Quinto(Heroes) plays the enigmatic and at times way too logical Mr. Spock, half Vulcan/half Human he is the picture of discipline and logic while within himself he is at constant odds at controlling his mixed pedigree's turbulent emotions.

Karl Urban(Chronicles of Riddick) is Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, a gruff doubting individual whose faith and trust are lacking in both the individuals around him and the technologies that they control.

Zoe Saldana(Pirates of the Caribbean) is communications officer Nyota Uhura, the beautiful and bright lieutenant who carries a secret.

...and the crew is rounded out by actors Simon Peeg(Shaun of the Dead) as Montgomery Scott ,and John Cho(Harold & Kumar) as helmsman Hikaru Sulu.

All the principal actors turn in fine performances in this action packed film. The story(written by Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman) is a time travel adventure with the Romulans as the antagonists, featuring Eric Bana(Hulk, Troy) as the main baddie, a bald tattooed cat by the name of Nero hell bent on revenge against those who cost him everything ,his life, his family, his world.

Leonard Nimoy reprises the role of Mr. Spock albeit an aged version from the future, and the character of Spock both old and new is pivotal to the storyline. Bruce Greenwood(Nowhere Man) plays Captain Christopher Pike, the original Captain of the Enterprise and mentor to the young Jim Kirk.

But ye be warned for this is not your daddy's STAR TREK, whereas the original spirit and flavor of the classic series is intact with this, the 11th and latest cinematic adventure, there are some subtle visual and character changes to be noticed...In my opinion the big character treatment belongs to a rather minor crew member, helmsman Pavel Chekov(Anton Yelchin) who has been transformed into a confident and quite intelligent character who saves the ship and crew on at least two instances in the film from certain destruction...a far cry from the bumbling uncertain young navigator originally portrayed in the series by Walter Koenig.

Some surprising acting choices are evident in the roles of Spock's parents; Ben Cross plays his father Sarek while Winona Ryder portrays Amanda, his human mother...I guess my biggest reservation visually is shared by many in the re-design of the Enterprise herself, while retaining the general look of the original design it has been given a "hot-rod" treatment, it looks like its on steroids! While I begrudgingly accepted the new look of the ships interiors with the exception of some of the lower decks which resembled a factory floor or at times a plumbers nightmare ,I draw the line at messing with the external look of the now legendary profile of the Constellation Class Starship, especially when you consider that other original ship designs from the series like the shuttle craft were virtually untouched.

All in all the film was acceptable, a lot of action, fine performances turned in by all and with the somewhat disappointing villain and at times muddled storyline it still works on the big screen, and with a few minor exceptions I think the old man(Gene Roddenberry) would have liked it.

The film is dedicated in memory to the series and franchise creator Gene Roddenberry and his late wife Majel Barrett (#1, Nurse Chapel) who re-recorded the ships computer voice for the new film shortly before her death.

-live long and prosper/peace ;)

Film review; "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"

I took a little break from reality this past weekend and went and saw the latest Hollyweird adaptation of a comic book character, the Marvel mutant killing machine we all know and love; Wolverine.

The film has been surrounded with the usual hype and even some controversy over the pre release of a pre post production print onto the internet by a now former employee of 20th Century Fox. Was the film worth losing a great paying job over by leaking it out....in two words! HELL NO!

I feel even a bit ripped off and I saw the movie for FREE, hell I even had a FREE bag of popcorn complete with artificially butter flavored sludge to go with my moviegoing experience.

The powers that be at Hollywood missed the mark yet again as far as producing a viewable comic adaptation on film; "Wolverine" joins recent misses like "Constantine", "Catwoman", and dare I say it..."Watchmen" as the latest in a series of less than satisfactory adaptations.

"Wolverine" played effectively by Hugh Jackman(Australia, the Fountain, X-Men) tells of the early years of the claw wielding Cannuck and his big brother Victor (Liev Schreiber-Sphere,Defiance, Manchurian Candidate) who would later become the maniacal killer "Sabertooth", after surviving a rathger angst ridden and somewhat traumatic childhood the brothers travel the world together for quite sometime, well over a 100 years (their mutant ability is a healing factor which also gives their lifespan an amazing longevity), they have experienced many things together, especially wars, they have served in every major American War starting with the Civil war and leading up to Vietnam. Over the years the brothers grow farther apart ,while Victor grows to embrace his more feral nature and taste for blood the younger Wolverine has grown tired of all the killing and death with which he has witnessed and participated in.

The films biggest disappointment for me was the lack of a real story, and way too many supporting characters, there was a big thing to boost this among comic fans by saying X-Men faves "Gambit"(Taylor Kitsch-Friday Night Lights), and "Emma Frost"(Tahnya Tozzi) would appear in the film, alas they were mere cameos and did not really play a pivotal part of the storyline. Logan and Victor end up being part of a merc squad led by a Colonel with a hidden agenda; William Stryker(Danny Huston-30 Days of Night) ,the squad consists of mutants as well including "Deadpool"(Ryan Reynolds), "Bolt"(Danny Monaghan), "Wraith"(Will I Am), and a fellow who will later become; "the Blob"(Kevin Durand). Things get very nasty with this group quick and that's where Wolverine says enough is enough and leaves the group.

Stryker takes exception to this and plots to get him back...no matter what!

I can go ahead and tell you the entire plot of the film but I have become weary of even doing this, the film has its bright spots though, especially in the acting category. Jackman does a great job at portraying the title character, he should have it down by now( its his 4th time playing the character), and Liev Schrieber plays a convincing psychopath in the making in "Sabertooth".

The film tries to cover a lot of ground in just 2 hours where I think it would have been more effective if it had just concentrated on the relationship of the two brothers, the other characters and subplots were just too much for me and detracted from what was the most important part of the film...the main character-Wolverine!

The film is full of action and was well directed by Gavin Hood despite the fact that he had to work with a rather fragmented screenplay written by David Benioff and Skip Woods, yes, it took two guys to write this film! The film is also rated PG-13 when considering the characters and subject matter should have easily been rated R, but never underestimate Hollywood's gift for catering to the masses.

You want a more effective portrayal of Wolverine on screen- watch "X-MEN 2" again...

-peace :)